Erosion Control

When vegetation and topsoil are stripped from a construction site,
erosion is sure to follow. Exposed soil, or dirt, erodes when there's
nothing to protect it from rain and wind. This eroded dirt doesn't just
disappear. It usually ends up in a nearby waterway, where it eventually
settles to the bottom to become sediment. In fact, this sediment just
might find its way to your favorite fishing hole, smothering fish eggs and
fouling the water. The rate of erosion on most construction sites is 500
times greater than what would occur naturally on an undisturbed, vegetated
site. That's why urban land development is a major source of sediment
pollution. In fact, by volume, sediment is currently the greatest
pollutant of Virginia's rivers and streams.
You might wonder why plain, old dirt is considered a contaminant. It
pollutes by clouding waters, obstructing waterways, clogging storm pipes,
damaging adjacent properties and interfering with navigation. Successful
minimization of these impacts can be achieved by implementing erosion and
sediment control (E&SC) measures on construction sites to prevent soil
movement/loss in the first place. Virginia was among the first states to
specifically address E&SC from construction sites by establishing a
mandatory E&SC program nearly 30 years ago. The VA Department of
Conservation and Recreation implements the state E&SC Program according to
the Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Law, Regulations, and
Certification Regulations (VESCL&R). The E&SC Program's goal is to control
soil erosion, sedimentation, and nonagricultural runoff from regulated
"land-disturbing activities" to prevent degradation of property and
natural resources. Please refer to DCR’s website for more information on
the E&SC program:
http://www.dcr.state.va.us/sw/e&s.htm

What should you do? Keep your dirt on your project! Install
erosion and sediment controls properly and at the beginning of
construction. And maintain the controls throughout the project.

What about Permits? Any land disturbance of 2500 square feet or
more requires a Land Disturbance Permit from the City’s Engineering
Department. To get the permit, an Erosion & Sediment Control Plan that
meets the City's and DCR's requirements must be submitted and approved by
the Engineering Department. To find out more about the land disturbance
permit fees and plan requirements, please call the City’s Engineering
Department at (757) 393-8592 or review the City's Erosion & Sediment
Control ordinance online at:
www.portsmouthva.gov/citycode.htm.